Voices from The Bench

This week on Voices From the Bench, we finally sit down with the 2025 CDT of the Year, Mike Wandling! Mike shares his journey from starting as a dental technician in 2001 to becoming an educator, Master CDT, examiner, NBC Board member, lab owner, and now Operations Manager at Summit Horizon Dental Laboratory. We talk certification, education, the future of the CDT program, his “A-Team” partnership with Barb, and what it means to give back to the dental laboratory industry.

Elvis sits down with Dan Sinclair and Amir Bagheri from Magic Touch Software to talk about the history of the company, how it grew from a small development project into a complete laboratory management system, and why they believe labs need more than just production tracking. They dive into automation, digital case entry, integrations, reporting, and the importance of actually understanding how a lab operates before trying to improve it.

Veronika Perrone from DETAX and Brandon Smith join Elvis and Barb to dive into the world of 3D-printed flexible partials and digital removable workflows. They talk about DETAX’s flexible resin, real-world lab experience, design and post-processing, printer validation, splint materials, and how digital technology is changing the way labs approach flexible appliances. Brandon also shares his journey through the dental industry and his work in training and consulting.

Caroline Kirkpatrick shares her incredible journey from discovering dental technology by chance in Scotland to becoming the first female clinical dental technician to qualify in the UK. She talks about building her own lab, teaching, treating patients, and embracing digital dentistry while constantly looking for better, more efficient ways to work. It’s a great conversation about curiosity, education, digital dentures, and the importance of sharing what you’ve learned along the way.

Shawn Nowak from Nowak Dental Supplies joins Elvis and Barb to talk about NOLA LabFest and the unexpected connection between martial arts and the dental laboratory industry with speaker Jude Grayson. They discuss leadership, business, knowing when to pivot, and how lessons from competition and martial arts can help lab owners navigate a rapidly changing industry. Plus, Shawn gives a preview of what’s coming to NOLA LabFest, including education, networking, and plenty of New Orleans fun.